Last year, Russians bought 228 thousand new cars

Last year, Russians bought 228 thousand new cars, nearly double the sales level of 2002. In an interview with Itar-Tass deputy chief of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Ministry of Industry Minister Alexei Serezhenkin. Noting that such a substantial increase in the market primarily due to a fivefold increase in the production of foreign cars in Russia and an increase in effective demand, Serezhenkin expressed confidence that "this trend will continue in the future." Another factor considered in the Ministry of Industry, was "an introduction to our country, safeguard measures in relation to the products of foreign auto industry." "Government adopted the concept of auto industry - says Serezhenkin - the world's auto giants to set terms when it is more profitable to build a factory in Russia, than to import cars here." As a result, he added, "benefiting those who had opened his own production in our country." In 2004, the joint venture "GM-AvtoVAZ" intends to produce about 60 thousand vehicles "Chevrolet-Niva". 20 to 24 thousand cars "BMW", "Kia" and "Hammer" will gather at the Kaliningrad "Avtotor", and the factory "Ford" to increase production at its plant in the Leningrad region to 22 thousand cars. The plans of the Russian-French joint venture "Avtoframos", has already released more than a thousand cars, is starting production "Reno H90." This car, according to experts, could become a serious competitor "Chevy Niva". Taganrog plant TagAZ gathering "Daewoo", "Citroen" and "Hyundai", will bring together more than five thousand cars. According to forecasts of Ministry of Industry, just this year in Russia will be sold over 1 million 200 thousand cars.